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Big Five
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Been on safari from Cape Town? |
Were you hoping for a Big 5 National Park in Cape Town? I’m sorry to have to disappoint you! The nearest is Addo Elephant National Park near Port Elizabeth, some 800km distant. It’s a short flight away or an enjoyable drive up the Garden Route.
Maybe a combination tour is an option for you? Fly into
Cape Town
and see the city, drive up and enjoy the
Garden Route
and then visit
Addo
before flying home direct from Port Elizabeth.
If the Eastern Cape isn’t part of your plan, there are a number of private game reserves near Cape Town that may cater to your requirements.
Big Five Cape Town game reserves -- closest to furthest
Aquila Game Reserve
is the smallest of the private game reserves and the closest to Cape Town. They are pretty organised with shuttles that collect from city hotels and are the only park that offers a day safari from Cape Town.
They also cater for overnight safaris and fly in safaris from Cape Town. I’d recommend them as the best family safari near Cape Town.
Sanbona Wildlife Reserve
near Montague is about 2 ˝ hours’ drive from Cape Town, en route to Oudtshoorn. It is the largest of these private reserves and is surrounded by spectacular Fold Mountains. It is home to a pride of white lions, not to mention all the other game! You can game watch from open vehicles or join your guide on foot.
There’s an added bonus – they have a luxurious spa to help soothe away your stresses...
The
Garden Route Game Lodge
is about 3 ˝ hours’ drive, en route to Knysna. Again one of the smaller reserves, in my opinion they offer outstanding value for money. If you’re looking for a Big Five budget safari, they might fit your bill.
Botlierskop Private Game Reserve
-- have you heard about the elephant back safaris near Cape Town? This is the place! They are about 4 hours drive from Cape Town, just beyond Mossel Bay, again en route to Knysna. That makes them the closest reserve to shark cage diving and the Garden Route beaches!
On a much lesser budget –
If you’re looking for a Cape Buffalo safari, you can do a day trip to Solole Game Reserve in Cape Town for next to nothing.
Oh, and Cape Town also has its own small hippo reserve at Rondevlei .
Then of course there are quaggas, wildebeest and various ‘bokkies’ (buck) on the slopes of Devil’s Peak in the Table Mountain National Park .
Photo courtesy of Belinda Green
Cape Town
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